The Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER), in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering through the Africa Catalyst Project, successfully completed the second cohort of a five-day workshop held from August 8-14.

The training aimed to provide engineers with soft skills and deepen participants' knowledge in the engineering field. Upon completion, over 42 participants were awarded certificates for their participation.

The training sessions also aimed to equip attendees with communication and crucial skills, including teamwork, personal branding, networking, CV creation and improvement, crafting effective cover letters, acing job interviews, public speaking, and navigating a career in engineering.

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Throughout the workshop, trainees explored the importance of understanding engineering, mastering core competencies, upholding ethical standards, and developing leadership skills, all important for driving innovation and achieving excellence in the field.

Trainees also learnt about personal branding, the setbacks that can damage a brand, and how to build a strong professional identity.

During the training, Steven Sabiti, CEO of the Institution of Engineers Rwanda, noted the importance of building the capacity of engineers as part of their mandate.

"Our goal is to ensure that these engineers have the ability to advance their careers, effectively express themselves in interviews, and improve their skills for better employability.

"We want these young engineers to stand out, to apply what they have learned from the workshop, and become more competent professionals. The skills they&039;re acquiring are crucial for their career growth,” he said.

Sabiti also stressed the importance of soft skills, emphasising that having technical engineering skills and a deep understanding of the discipline is essential, but equally important is possessing the soft skills needed to communicate effectively.

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One of the training facilitators, Papias Dedeki Kazawadi, an engineer and president of the Federation of Africa Engineering Organisations (FAEO), guided trainees on the role engineering plays in the country's development, stressing the importance of understanding the field, showcasing their skills, and demonstrating professional behaviour in the job market.

Kazawadi said that regarding the IER training programmes, they aim to uncover numerous solutions and, more importantly, for engineers to create innovative solutions for the country.

He added, "Your journey is just beginning. If you want to succeed, remember that the certificate you receive is merely proof that you spent five days in training. However, in terms of competence and knowledge, there's still much more to learn.”

Additionally, participants worked in teams and engaged in exercises to reinforce the lessons. At the end of the sessions, they gave presentations on how to effectively showcase their projects.

Cecile Uwimana, an IER member and project manager at Africa Catalyst in Rwanda, said that the training was chosen because, while engineers typically have strong technical skills from university, communication skills are often lacking in the field.

"We organised this training to support engineers to better express themselves, whether they are looking for jobs or defending their technical expertise. It's important that they can clearly communicate what they can offer to others," she added.

Chance Munezero, one of the trainees and an IER graduate, said that the training covered a wide range of skills, including self-presentation, project management, professional ethics, writing and email skills, CV and resume preparation, public speaking, and interview techniques.

"We learned about personal branding, and I found out that my LinkedIn account was not professional enough for an engineer. It did not put me there, out there for people to see who I am, what I do, what I studied, what I'm capable of. They taught me how to turn my LinkedIn account into a professional profile,” she said.

Dorcy Kagame, one of the trainees, said the training was very constructive, noting the valuable insights shared by experienced engineers and the focus on developing writing, communication, public speaking, and project management skills important for engineers.

"For other young engineers like me, I encourage them to attend the training. The Institute is here to open doors for us and provide opportunities," he added.

The first cohort of the training took place in May, and the third is scheduled for November.